Sidelights on Winter Treble

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 982, 27 May 1930, Page 12

Sidelights on Winter Treble

G.N Fixture Opens Today Week

There will be a big influx of visiting horses from provincial and outside centres this week, and practically all those with engagements for the Great Northern Meeting will be on the scene by Saturday. Of the Great Northern Hurdles fleM, those already at Ellerslie are; King’s Jest, Elysianor, Omeo, Mountain Guide, Maunga and Kamehameha. That leaves eight still to arrive, but they are mostly quartered in provincial stables, none farther away than three hours’ train journey. That leaves Mister Gamp and Aurora Borealis the only outsiders to come, and they will probably be here on Friday morning, as announced in yesterday’s Sun. The arrival of last year’s Great Northern Hurdles winner, Mister "o\amp, is being eagerly awaited, for there is just a doubt as to his condition being such as will enable him to give of his best over the two and ahalf miles. As against this, it is reported that his one race over the sticks at Wanganui has brought him along considerably. But if he is to win next Tuesday with 11.5 up, Mister Gamp will have to be cherry ripe. There is no great development to record so far as the Cornwall Handicap or Great Northern Steeplechase are concerned. The early favourite, Ponjola, would gain rather than lose admirers by his schooling effort last Saturday. Then he found the hill a bit strange and was a trifle uncertain, but even taking this into consideration he gave a very smooth exhibition. The only point which did not altogether please the cognoscenti was his tendency to take charge of his

TODAY’S FANCIES

THE ACCEPTORS

rider, for over the first six furlongs, prior to climbing the hill, lie was pulling very hard indeed. This will not do in the Great Northern, which is nearly a four-mile race over 25 fences, and three times over the hill. Ponjola steadied his reefing tactics when lie came to surmount the hill, and as the horses go only three furlongs before coming to the stiff climb in the race, this in itself may have the effect of steadying him. If any one horse is to win the two Northerns, then Omeo is the one that should accomplish this rare feat. That is what the latst “card" indicates. Indeed, Omeo-Omeo is at present the ruling favourite for the jumping double, at a short price—but any price is a good one so long as it is a winner. The Cornwall Handicap is rather overshadowed by the two big jumping races, and there does not appear to be any outstanding favourite. Porapeius. Standfast, Prince of Orange (who will be ridden by R. J. Mackie) and Pahu are quoted at fair prices. Today’s arrivals include King’s Jest. Grattus and Bold Front. Glenstar and Marble King arrived yesterday afternoon. The Great Northern Meeting is to be held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of next week, and the work-outs at Ellerslie today and next Thursday and Saturday may throw some light on the chances of the leading candidates. In the meantime, “Early Bird’’ expresses a fancy for the following horses for the three principal events next week—the Great Northern\Hurdles and Cornwall Handicap (run the first day), and the Great Northern Steeplechase (run on the second day):

G.N. Hurdles G.N. Steeplechase Cornwall Handicap STAR COMET OMEO STANDFAST OMEO PONJOLA PA HU AURORA BOREALIS AURORA BOREALIS MENDIP ROMAN ABBEY MANGANI PRINCE OF ORANGE MISTER GAMP STAR COMET POMPEIUS

G.N. HURDLES G.N. STEEPLES CORNWALL HANDP. Of £1,750; 2i miles Of £2,000; about 3^ m. Of £1,000; M miles Elysianor . . . . 11 5 Elysianor . . . 11 0 Corinax . . . . 10 2 M istcr Gamp . 11 5 Wedding March 10 12 Seatown .... Maori Boy . . . 9 0 Star Comet . . 10 5 Kawini . . . . 10 8 Mendip .... 8 13 Pouri 10 0 Mangani . . . . 10 1 Pahu Nassock .... 8 8 10 6 Aurora Borealis 9 11 Pouri 10 C Barometer . . . S b Roman Abbey . 9 11 Star Comet . . , 10 0 Standfast . . 8 8 4 Kawini . . . . 9 11 High Pitch . . 8 3 9 8 Roman Abbey . 9 11 Lucy Rose . . . 8 2 Omeo 9 4 Ponjola . . . . . 9 10 Bold Front . . . Pompeius . . . 8 8 1 9 C Matu ..... 9 5 Transformer . . 8 0 Kamehanfeha 9 0 Maunga . . . . Airtight .... 9 9 5 3 True Blood . . . Valsier 8 3 0 0 Maunga . . . . 9 0 Aurora Borealis 9 0 King Emerald 8 0 Wako King . 9 0 Kamehameha Odin 9 9 0 0 K a h a 8 8 0 0 Daylight . . . . 9 0 Wako King . . 9 0 Mon Star . . . 8 0